Real Estate


Joseph Bernstein has been involved in real estate activities as an attorney, financial adviser, investor and principal. These activities have included obtaining development, zoning and regulatory approvals for commercial, retail, entertainment, gaming, resort and golf projects; acquisition, financing, development, rehabilitation and sale of office buildings; architectural, engineering, demolition and construction contracts; ground lease transactions; tenant leasing and property management agreements; workouts and foreclosures; and mortgage redemption and surrender agreements.

Representative Transactions

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The Crown Building at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street
  • Negotiation of a joint venture agreement between a Swiss investment group, Tishman-Speyer and Mendik Realty relating to a bid to acquire the Pan Am Building at 200 Park Avenue, a 2.5 million SF, 60-story tower; and, submission of a $369 million bid on behalf of the Swiss investment group.  
  • Joint venture negotiations and submission of a $477 million bid to the Metropolitan Transit Authority to acquire a 4-acre parcel of land at the New York Coliseum for development of a 2.7 million SF, 80-story, mixed use tower at Columbus Circle.   
  • Acquisition, development and sale of Americas Tower, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, including assembly of various parcels for a New York City block front development between West 45th and West 46th Streets, developed as a one million SF, 50-story office building. 
  • Acquisition and transfer of 200,000 SF of air rights from a landmark property, the LaGuardia High School, under agreements with the City of New York and New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. 
  • Acquisition and sale to Bank of America and The Durst Organization of four development parcels at the corner of Avenue of the Americas and West 42nd Street. 
  • Acquisition, sale and financing  of Randolph Tower, 45-story office tower, Chicago. 
  • Acquisition, sale and financing of Lintas House, 15-19 New Fetter Lane, London.  
  • Acquisition, financing, redevelopment and sale of  ""The Hecksher Building" at 730 Fifth Avenue, corner 57th Street, and its redevelopment as “The Crown Building.” 
  • Acquisition, financing, redevelopment and sale of Korvette’s Department Store at 34th Street and Broadway and its redevelopment as "Herald Center."  
  • Acquisition and financing of 40 Wall Street, a 70-story office tower; the ABN Bank Building, 84 William Street; and, The New York Realty Building, 29 West 57thStreet.   
  • Acquisition, financing and sale of a 10,000 SF development parcel at 60 East 55th St., between Park and Madison Avenues.   
  • Development and management contracts for gaming facilities for Indian tribes, including applications to the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, to transfer land into trust for gaming.  
  • Negotiation and execution of development agreements with a moshav and with a kibbutz in Israel for the development of resorts and golf clubs. 
  • Acquisition of long-term land leases on 600 acres on Mt. Arbel from the Israel Land Authority, including obtaining approvals for development of a $150 million luxury resort and golf project overlooking the Sea of Galilee.     
  • Acquisition of the 230-acre Monticello Raceway and its redevelopment as a casino.